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Guinness World Records refuses to recognise Fauja Singh’s 'marathon' feat
Ashis Ray, TNN | Oct 25, 2011, 05.22AM IST
LONDON: Guinness World Records has refused to recognise Fauja Singh, the London-based 100-year-old Sikh, as the world's oldest man to have completed a 42km marathon. Singh ran the distance in Toronto, Canada earlier this month, finishing in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.
Guinness World Records told TOI: "Although we appreciate the great running achievement of Mr Singh, we simply cannot acknowledge the title for the 'oldest marathon runner' until we have a copy of an original birth certificate."
Singh, who worked as a farmer in Punjab before moving to Britain in 1992, presented his passport as the proof of his age. According to the passport Singh's date of birth is April 1, 1911. Guinness World Records said: "His passport is taken as supporting evidence but the key piece of evidence is the birth certificate. They are very welcome to present this evidence whenever they are ready."
Such evidence may never be available as Singh's trainer, Harmander Singh, explains: "Such documents were not made in India then." A letter from the Indian government stating that no birth records were kept in 1911 was also submitted, as was a statement vouching for Singh's age from a former neighbour in India; but these, too, have failed to impress Guinness World Records.
A message from Queen Elizabeth II congratulating Singh on his 100th birthday-a customary gesture to all centenarians in her country by the British monarch-was shown to the organisation. But this too was deemed to be insufficient compared to Guinness World Records' uncompromising standards.
Singh, who does not speak any English, has over the years claimed a number of world records for his age group, but none of these records have been ratified by Guinness World Records.
Singh received international media coverage, acknowledging his apparently unique feat at Toronto. It was also erroneously reported at the time that Singh already had a place in Guinness World Records for the over-90 marathon category after running the 2003 Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Singhs-marathon-feat/articleshow/10482131.cms
Ashis Ray, TNN | Oct 25, 2011, 05.22AM IST
LONDON: Guinness World Records has refused to recognise Fauja Singh, the London-based 100-year-old Sikh, as the world's oldest man to have completed a 42km marathon. Singh ran the distance in Toronto, Canada earlier this month, finishing in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.
Guinness World Records told TOI: "Although we appreciate the great running achievement of Mr Singh, we simply cannot acknowledge the title for the 'oldest marathon runner' until we have a copy of an original birth certificate."
Singh, who worked as a farmer in Punjab before moving to Britain in 1992, presented his passport as the proof of his age. According to the passport Singh's date of birth is April 1, 1911. Guinness World Records said: "His passport is taken as supporting evidence but the key piece of evidence is the birth certificate. They are very welcome to present this evidence whenever they are ready."
Such evidence may never be available as Singh's trainer, Harmander Singh, explains: "Such documents were not made in India then." A letter from the Indian government stating that no birth records were kept in 1911 was also submitted, as was a statement vouching for Singh's age from a former neighbour in India; but these, too, have failed to impress Guinness World Records.
A message from Queen Elizabeth II congratulating Singh on his 100th birthday-a customary gesture to all centenarians in her country by the British monarch-was shown to the organisation. But this too was deemed to be insufficient compared to Guinness World Records' uncompromising standards.
Singh, who does not speak any English, has over the years claimed a number of world records for his age group, but none of these records have been ratified by Guinness World Records.
Singh received international media coverage, acknowledging his apparently unique feat at Toronto. It was also erroneously reported at the time that Singh already had a place in Guinness World Records for the over-90 marathon category after running the 2003 Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Singhs-marathon-feat/articleshow/10482131.cms